Matthew 5:17-"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18-For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19-Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20-For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Now if you read this carefully, we are to still follow the 10 Commandments, right? Then why is it that the one commandment we seem to forget is the one that starts with "remember"?
The Ten Commandments (paraphrased by me)
1. Do not put any other gods before God.
2. Do not make idols to worship.
3. Do not misuse God's name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. Do not kill.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not covet.
Most of these are pretty much no-brainers, but what about #4? Has it been overlooked for some reason or do we not need to observe the Sabbath anymore?
Here is the entire text on that commandment:
Exodus 20:8-"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9-Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10-but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11-For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
There are examples in Scripture of different things ending and we don't do them anymore, but when it comes to the Sabbath, I do not see anyone in any book/letter saying that we should stop. For example, there are plenty of verses that talk about circumcision not being necessary. There was also a very clear end to sacrificing animals because Jesus himself was the "sacrifice once and for all", so there are some very clear examples for you! Not only can I not find anything saying we can stop observing the Sabbath, but throughout the New Testament the church still held to the Sabbath.
Exodus 31:16 says "Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever." (emphasis mine) In the King James version it says "perpetual covenant". Perpetual means everlasting or never ending!
Now, I know you're thinking "This is for Israel and not for gentile Christians", but hold on!
Romans 11 (the whole chapter is great!) 11-So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12-Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
13-Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14-in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15-For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16- If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17-But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18-do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19-Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20-That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21-For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22-Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23-And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24-For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
We were grafted into God's family. And this cannot possibly be more clear:
Galatians 3:7-Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8-And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9-So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (skipping a few verses, but look it up!) 26-for in Christ Jesus) you are all sons of God, through faith. 27-For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28-There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29-And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (emphasis mine)
So if we are all Abraham's offspring and all inherit the promise made to him by God, then the everlasting covenant concerning the Sabbath applies to all Christians, Jew and Gentile alike!
I could list several more verses I have been reading, but I think this right here gets straight to the point and is very clear.
Now as far as the day of the week, Sabbath literally means 7th day. In many different languages the word for Saturday is the same as the word sabbath, so there is no question in my mind about which day of the week it is on. However, simply because of the way our culture is, I think the main thing is to set aside one day of the week to meet with other believers and keep that day holy unto God. Saturday is the true Sabbath though, so if you find a good Bible believing church that meets together on Saturday, that is great! Maybe you could even visit some Messianic Jewish congregations, which I have really wanted to do for a couple of years now but have not done so yet. I think Chrys and I are going to celebrate Passover with some Jewish friends soon though!
Now, as far as what to do on the Sabbath (or Lord's Day, if you prefer, since most of us do not meet on Saturdays), the commandment only says to remember the day and keep it holy. So I think it should be a day where we do not work (but not in a legalistic way, just don't do more than necessary) and meet with other believers to worship God and fellowship together! It really is that simple! God meant the Sabbath to be a blessing to us, not a curse, but man's laws have made it become a curse to many as it is so hard to keep all the laws. God's law is very simple. Just remember it and worship God together.
This is just something I have been studying lately and wanted to share. Please leave your own comments/thoughts. I'd love to hear what you all have to say about it! :)
Now if you read this carefully, we are to still follow the 10 Commandments, right? Then why is it that the one commandment we seem to forget is the one that starts with "remember"?
The Ten Commandments (paraphrased by me)
1. Do not put any other gods before God.
2. Do not make idols to worship.
3. Do not misuse God's name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. Do not kill.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not covet.
Most of these are pretty much no-brainers, but what about #4? Has it been overlooked for some reason or do we not need to observe the Sabbath anymore?
Here is the entire text on that commandment:
Exodus 20:8-"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9-Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10-but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11-For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
There are examples in Scripture of different things ending and we don't do them anymore, but when it comes to the Sabbath, I do not see anyone in any book/letter saying that we should stop. For example, there are plenty of verses that talk about circumcision not being necessary. There was also a very clear end to sacrificing animals because Jesus himself was the "sacrifice once and for all", so there are some very clear examples for you! Not only can I not find anything saying we can stop observing the Sabbath, but throughout the New Testament the church still held to the Sabbath.
Exodus 31:16 says "Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever." (emphasis mine) In the King James version it says "perpetual covenant". Perpetual means everlasting or never ending!
Now, I know you're thinking "This is for Israel and not for gentile Christians", but hold on!
Romans 11 (the whole chapter is great!) 11-So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12-Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
13-Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14-in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15-For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16- If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17-But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18-do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19-Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20-That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21-For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22-Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23-And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24-For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
We were grafted into God's family. And this cannot possibly be more clear:
Galatians 3:7-Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8-And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9-So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (skipping a few verses, but look it up!) 26-for in Christ Jesus) you are all sons of God, through faith. 27-For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28-There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29-And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (emphasis mine)
So if we are all Abraham's offspring and all inherit the promise made to him by God, then the everlasting covenant concerning the Sabbath applies to all Christians, Jew and Gentile alike!
I could list several more verses I have been reading, but I think this right here gets straight to the point and is very clear.
Now as far as the day of the week, Sabbath literally means 7th day. In many different languages the word for Saturday is the same as the word sabbath, so there is no question in my mind about which day of the week it is on. However, simply because of the way our culture is, I think the main thing is to set aside one day of the week to meet with other believers and keep that day holy unto God. Saturday is the true Sabbath though, so if you find a good Bible believing church that meets together on Saturday, that is great! Maybe you could even visit some Messianic Jewish congregations, which I have really wanted to do for a couple of years now but have not done so yet. I think Chrys and I are going to celebrate Passover with some Jewish friends soon though!
Now, as far as what to do on the Sabbath (or Lord's Day, if you prefer, since most of us do not meet on Saturdays), the commandment only says to remember the day and keep it holy. So I think it should be a day where we do not work (but not in a legalistic way, just don't do more than necessary) and meet with other believers to worship God and fellowship together! It really is that simple! God meant the Sabbath to be a blessing to us, not a curse, but man's laws have made it become a curse to many as it is so hard to keep all the laws. God's law is very simple. Just remember it and worship God together.
This is just something I have been studying lately and wanted to share. Please leave your own comments/thoughts. I'd love to hear what you all have to say about it! :)
yep, mans law and hobby lobby's la...rob works all day and night saturday and sunday
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I think it is also very interesting how Christian practice changed from Saturday to Sunday.
ReplyDeleteFor inquiring minds, this is a great Sabbath resource: http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/OnlineLibrary/tabid/106/ctl/ViewMedia/mid/447/IID/65/LNG/en/7/Feast-Days-and-Sabbaths/SC/R/Default.aspx
Thanks, Chrys! Great article! And I meant to post the videos (parts 1 and 2) of the sermons about the Sabbath from that web site. I think I'll do that in another post. Thanks for sharing that link!
ReplyDeleteThis is something I've actually been wanting to blog about but haven't gotten around to. My take on it may be a little different than yours. But, as I have a list a mile long of things I've been meaning to blog....I'll get to this one before Meg graduates high school! LOL!
ReplyDelete